From The Urdu Press: ‘Rumblings against BJP below surface in wave-less polls’, ‘Mamata’s shifting stance shows opportunism’

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections which began on April 19 have entered the last two laps amidst a blazing hot summer, with voting being completed in 25 states and Union territories involving 428 of the 543 constituencies.

While covering the entire gamut of the polls, the Urdu dailies reflected hope as well as despair over the week. Bemoaning the “negative campaigning” and poll code violations by leading players in the fray, they also saw a silver lining in rising public wariness of the politics of hate and fear.

Flagging the absence of any discernible wave in the general elections, the New Delhi edition of Inquilab, in its May 17 leader headlined ‘Iss election mein bahut khamoshi hai (There is a lot of silence in this election)’, says reports from various regions indicate quiet stirrings of a change. “These reports do not get proper display or space in the mainstream media, but they still trickle in regularly. They are pointing to some rumblings among people below the surface, which are borne out by signals coming from some journalistic circles too,” the daily says, attributing it to “anti-incumbency” which may not be palpable.

“A key reason for a perceived anti-incumbency is that common people seem to have got frustrated by non-fulfilment of various major promises that the incumbent BJP had made over the last two terms. In its hubris, the BJP thought that PM Modi’s call will ensure an overwhelming voter turnout at the booths, but its figures have so far remained lower than earlier polls,” the editorial says.

“The second reason is a multitude of burning issues like price rise, unemployment, non-recruitment of employees, leaks of exam papers, farm distress, Agniveer scheme, and apprehensions about changes in the